Paws for a Cause: Northamptonshire care home dog show raises £395
Sunlight and wagging tails filled the grounds of Brackley Care Home as residents, visitors, and four-legged friends gathered for the annual Paw Parade Dog Show, raising just over £395 for Banbury-based charity Dogs for Good.
The event featured six fun-filled categories, with top-three finishers taking home canine gift bags sponsored by Crofts Pet Store in Banbury. West Northants Council Chairman Cllr Fiona Baker and Lucy Borrowdale from Brackley Paws faced the tough task of judging the competitors.
“There were so many gorgeous dogs and wonderful personalities that choosing the winners was definitely harder than I expected!” said Lucy. “Most importantly, raising over £390 for Dogs for Good made the afternoon even more special. It’s a worthwhile charity, and I was proud to play a small part in supporting it.”
Volunteer compere Ken MacIver, from Dogs For Good, kept the audience entertained with plenty of light-hearted humour while sharing insights into the charity's work.
“All the hard work was already done by the brilliant home staff, leaving me to just take the microphone and put the entrants at ease—especially the child dog handlers,” Mr MacIver said. “The great thing about this show is it's a very local event, with many of the entries related to the residents. It's obvious they love having dogs in their home.”
The day’s top honour went to Duke, a golden Labrador and handler Bernie dos Santos stepped in to show on behalf of a friend. Duke claimed first place in the Fabulous Fella category before going on to take the coveted title of Best in Show.
“He is such a precious boy to me, and seeing him do so well was a very special moment,” Ms dos Santos shared. “I was so happy to share the news with his owners afterwards—they were absolutely delighted.”
Community support proved vital to the day's success. Former Brackley Mayor Cllr Bernie Tiller provided and managed the sound equipment, while local businesses Inspiring Tails and Hills Hydrotherapy sponsored raffle prizes.
Care Home Manager Stephanie Eley praised the community spirit that made the day possible.
“The beautiful weather brought out lots of people and plenty of gorgeous dogs, but most importantly, our residents had such a wonderful time,” Ms Eley said. “Seeing their smiles, laughter, and excitement made all the hard work worthwhile. It was a truly memorable day, and we’re already looking forward to next year.”